Ever come across a product you could love in every way but one? I just came across it.
I love the Anna Sui Lip Gloss in both C (Clear) and R (Rich). I love how shiny they look on the lips. I love how the colour surprises me at every turn. I love how they apply and I love the packaging.
However, I do not love the scent.
Sigh…
Anna Sui products have her signature rose scent in everything. I have found products in the line to love but I would love them so much better if they did not have that powdery scent. But then there are people who love the scent so its pretty much individualistic. The saving grace is that the scent isn’t terribly strong in this new range of lipglosses, and they dissipate.
Anna Sui has revamped the lipgloss collection in their Spring 2011 release, with the introduction of new textures, colour and packaging. You really can’t beat Anna Sui for their packaging. Every little detail has been thought of, including how the cap forms the shape of a heart when viewed from above – see above 😉
There are 2 new textures – Anna Sui Lip Gloss C (Clear) for a clear highly reflective gloss and Lip Gloss R (Rich) for rich pigment with high shine. The swatches above give you an idea of just how clear and rich the colours are when applied. Let’s take a look at 2 colours I was sent – Lip Gloss C #300 Pink Diamond and Lip Gloss R #550 Spicy Brown.
Anna Sui Lip Gloss C #300 Pink Diamond
The Clear version comes in a purple box and #300 Pink Diamond in the tube is an adorable pink with glitter suspended in it. Its a very very pretty colour in the tube. However, bearing in mind that this is a Lip Gloss C (Clear), the texture is sheer. Highly glossy but sheer. The glitter doesn’t show up on the lips though, which is a good or bad thing, depending on how you like it 🙂
On my lips, there is just a hint of pink and a lot of shine. Its a great gloss to wear when you play up your eyes, or when you just don’t really want to bother. I like the subtle sweet look it imparts which friends will tell you not to believe. I’m not all sweetness and light 😛
Anna Sui Lip Gloss R (Rich) #550 Spicy Brown
The rich version comes in a red box and #550 Spicy Brown is just that. A shimmery brown. I was afraid of it. How does one wear brown on the lips? I rarely do. But I was game to give it a go. The colour in this one is more pigmented and there was more shimmer and less gloss. I felt that this one was the anti-thesis to Pink Diamond. If Pink Diamond was sweetness and light, Spicy Brown had an edge.
Interestingly, on my lips, it took on a slight red tint which tempered the brown somewhat and made it wearable. I was pleasantly surprised! I found myself quite liking this shade. The texture is less thick compared to the Clear gloss, and felt a little drier, perhaps because it was more pigmented. Being more pigmented, this one lasted on my lips longer than Lip Gloss C did.
Pros: Colour in Lip Gloss R is strong with shimmer, Lip Gloss C has lovely high shine, Not Drying on my lips, Applies easily, Lasts relatively long through morning coffee and water at least
Cons: Strong rose scent 🙁
The rose scent, as I’ve noted, isn’t as strong as in some of the other products. It also dissipates and after a while I no longer notice it. If you are very sensitive to scent, please take a look and sniff at the counter before plonking money down for these very pretty glosses. I don’t find them particularly pricey for a department store brand, and the colours are really pretty!
Does either gloss tickle your fancy? Might you want to check the other colours out? There are quite a lot and they are really pretty! I would, if only I could get over the scent.
How do you feel about scent in lip products? I prefer my lip products to be unscented or if scented, that it dissipates quickly or isn’t too strong.
Paris B
Anna Sui Lip Gloss C comes in 15 shades and Lip Gloss R comes in 8 shades and both retail at RM75 each at all Anna Sui counters
Amanda says
March 21, 2011 at 1:20 pmI love the Spicy Brown color, look beautiful on you…
I never try Anna Sui lipgloss. I’m sticking with my Rimmel Long-lasting gloss now, but start to hate it. Maybe will give Anna Sui a try. Or do u have any lipgloss suggestion for extra chap lip? 🙂
ParisB says
March 21, 2011 at 1:27 pmThank you Amanda 🙂 I haven’t tried Rimmel lipglosses. Perhaps what you can do is apply a thin layer of lipbalm and then the lipgloss so it doesn’t dry your lips out further? I am very fussy about my lipglosses when I do wear them, and my favourites so far are Dior Addict, Revlon Colourburst, Chanel, Lancome (Creme de Brilliance) all of which do not dry my lips out. You can probably take a look at some of the ones I’ve tried here. That said, I don’t have very dry/chapped lips to start with but I think the lipbalm trick will work for you 🙂
makeup.addict says
March 21, 2011 at 1:38 pmI love the look of the glosses on you but I’ll probably never try it as Anna Sui is one of the brands I am hesitant to purchase. I pretty much walk by the counter almost everyday at Isetan KLCC in order to get to the outdoor car park, but I never really wanted to stop and try anything out from the brand. I much much prefer visiting the Chanel, Dior, EL or Guerlain counter when I am at Isetan to buy cosmetics. Is it just me or are there any other people who are hesitant to try Asian brand even though they are at the department stores? The only Asian brand I have tried is Shiseido and that is only because I was in desperate need of a sunscreen before I went out jogging at the park after work. 😉
ParisB says
March 21, 2011 at 1:48 pmThanks! 🙂 I must say that the Western brands are more eye catching than the Asian brands in department stores. Maybe there’s just more of them 🙂 I do like my Asian brands though I buy my Kanebo products from the salon (where I’m usually enticed by them after my facials). Otherwise, I don’t pay much attention to the Asian department store brands either. It must be the marketing or just counter visuals 🙂
Jen says
March 21, 2011 at 2:46 pmReally nice! I really like Lip Gloss C…really pretty! 🙂 I’m new to Anna Sui products. I know they’re really popular in Asia! I just recently bought a blush and I’m really in love with it!
ParisB says
March 21, 2011 at 3:52 pmLip Gloss C is certainly pretty as are the other shades available. I used to have an Anna Sui blush! 😀 The recent duo doesn’t count. But the one I had before was pink and was very pretty. I wonder where is it now… 😉
Hanny says
March 21, 2011 at 2:57 pmAm not rather interested in Asian brands as well, but Anna Sui is a Western brand, is it not? I mean, Anna Sui is Asian-American and all that.
ParisB says
March 21, 2011 at 3:53 pmI think the confusion arises from Anna Sui herself being American, but her products being from Japan and being more popular in Asia. So I personally view Anna Sui as an Asian brand even if in reality it isn’t. Which is terribly confusing 😛
xin says
March 21, 2011 at 4:31 pmI think all of the Anna sui products are heavily scented right? hey i loved the spicy brown! so subtly seductive
ParisB says
March 21, 2011 at 4:47 pmYes all of them have that rose scent. Some like it, some don’t. I don’t. Well, not for everything 🙁
jojoba (My Makeup Reviews) says
March 21, 2011 at 6:32 pmoh i love the second colour on you. it’s different from your normal red and rose. it’s hotter. way hotter!
ParisB says
March 22, 2011 at 7:14 pmThank you Jojoba! I’ve been using it quite often lately and the colour’s been growing on me. Maybe I should look into browns in other non scented lines 😉
Amanda says
March 21, 2011 at 7:32 pmThe main reason why I don’t have any Anna Sui products because of its scent. I just can’t stand it no matter how pretty they are.
ParisB says
March 22, 2011 at 7:15 pmI used to have their blush and eyeshadow. The scent isn’t as strong in powder products as it is in liquid. I also used to love their mascara but that scent got to me 🙁
Grace says
March 21, 2011 at 8:59 pmLoving the pink gloss! I must admit, never been a fan of Anna Sui products but the pink gloss looks good 🙂
ParisB says
March 22, 2011 at 7:15 pmIt is a very pretty pink indeed! 😀 Glad it doesn’t have chunks of glitter on the lips 🙂
Monstro says
March 21, 2011 at 9:57 pmI love both the colours on you! I’ve always been a sucker for Anna Sui stuff–must be the packaging! Plus unlike you, I like the rose scent…so I guess it just grabs me right away-haha! Must go check em out!
ParisB says
March 22, 2011 at 7:16 pmOhhh next time I know laa… 😉 Anna Sui is amazing with packaging and if you can handle the scent, its got good products too! Try their volume mascara. I loved it!
Connie De Alwis says
March 22, 2011 at 11:17 pmOoh, Spicy Brown looks good on you! I agree that they’re shiny but the texture’s isn’t my favorite.
milktea says
March 22, 2011 at 11:48 pmI’m with Spicy Brown! 😉